Cannabis Plant Ruby 218

ABSTRACT

‘Ruby 218’ is new Cannabis plant variety that has useful characteristics such as high potency and sweet aroma.

Genus and species: The Cannabis variety of this invention is botanically identified as Cannabis sativa.

Variety denomination: The variety denomination is ‘Ruby 218’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to a new plant variety of Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) named ‘Ruby 218’. The new Cannabis variety is product of a planned and controlled breeding program for new Cannabis varieties. It was first asexually reproduced in Denver, Colo., and it has since also been asexually reproduced in Trinidad, Colo. The objective of the breeding program is to select new Cannabis varieties with a combination of desired vigor, potency, aroma, bud structure/form, yield, and tolerance or resistance to diseases.

The new Cannabis variety is a product of a planned breeding program intended to combine some of the desirable characteristics of two existing varieties: Rubicon and Pure Afghan. The variety arose from a cross between the parental varieties; using Pure Afghan as the pollen donor. The parental cross was made in August 2014. Single plants were selected and reproduced by cuttings using traditional horticultural plugs, trays and domes. One of the reproduced plants showed pronounced vigor and was selected as and named ‘Ruby 218’. This plant was selected and transferred to the production in April 2015. The plant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings since that time. The distinctive characteristics of the variety have been stable since that time through successive generations.

For asexual reproduction, axillary branches of the plant were excised from the mother plant. The cuttings were treated with indole 3 butyric acid; the cuttings were allowed to root over a period of three weeks at a temperature of 77 degrees F., relative humidity of 60%-80% and constant illumination at an intensity of 100 PPFD.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Ruby 218’ which in combination distinguish this Cannabis plant as a new and distinct variety, as compared to the parents, the closet varieties:

1. The new variety ‘Ruby 218’ has higher CBD content as compared to the parents, an indication of a higher potency,

2. The new variety has a sweet grass aroma as compared to the citrus/fruity or herbal/spicy aroma of the parents.

3. The new variety produces higher number of flowers per plant and the flowers of the new variety have larger diameter as compared to the parents, an indication of a higher yield.

4. The new variety has an above average yield per plant due to its vigor and inflorescence structure which allows for several large and heavy clusters to form on each plant. Flower may remain salable, marketable and usable for up to 1 year after harvest with minimal degradation or impact on use.

The traits of the new variety was tested at 2600 West Barberry Pl. Denver, Colo., U.S.A.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the appearance of the new Cannabis variety when the plants were at 63 days after flower initiation. The colors in the photographs are depicted as nearly true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors as shown in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description.

FIG. 1 shows a branch of a plant of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows the side view of a plant of the new variety.

FIG. 3 shows the top view of a flowering plant of the new variety in close-up.

FIG. 4 shows a dried bud of a plant of the new variety.

FIG. 5 shows flowers of a plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on observations made in February of 2016 on plants produced according to an ordinary growth cycle. However, the new Cannabis variety ‘Ruby 218’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, light intensity and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The photographs and description are taken from plants grown at the 2600 West Barberry Pl. in Denver, Colo., U.S.A. Following rooting, the cuttings were transplanted into Hydroton, and were grown for approximately 6 weeks or until roots emerged. The plants were then allowed to grow additional 9 weeks. During growth, all plants were fed and watered with nutrients from the Botanicare Kind line. Carbon dioxide concentration was measured and supplemented as required, between 900-1500 ppm. Vegetative growth was at a temperature of 78 degrees F., and relative humidity of 45% with constant illumination of 600 PPFD provided by 600W Metal Halide grow lights. After adequate vegetative growth had been attained, flowering was induced by changing the photoperiod to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.

Plants were observed on day 63 after the flower induction and the botanical description thereof is provided below. Characteristics described represent those which are typical for the new variety. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for 12 typical plants and plant parts. The actual measurements of any individual plant of plant parts, or any group of plants of plant parts, may vary from the stated averages.

PLANT DESCRIPTION

TABLE I General Parental Check Variety variety Parental variety (Cannabis Characteristic New Variety (Female plant) (Pollen donor) sativa) Plant life forms Herbaceous Herbaceous Herbaceous Plant Herbaceous Plant Plant Plant Plant growth habit Upright, tap- Upright, tap- Upright, tap- Upright, tap- rooted annual rooted annual rooted annual rooted annual plant plant plant plant Plant origin F1 hybrid F1 hybrid Landrace variety F1 hybrid between two between two from Mazar I between two Cannabis Cannabis Sharif Cannabis Subspecies Subspecies Subspecies (Rubicon × (Afghani × (Lambs Bread × Pure Afghan) Shunk #1) Sour Diesel) Plant propagation Asexual Asexual Asexual Asexual Propagation ease Easy¹ Easy Moderate² Moderate Height Variable; 1 Variable; 1 Variable; 1 meter Variable; 1 (Unit: m or cm) meter meter meter Width Variable; Variable; 0.75 Variable; 0.75 Variable; 0.75 (Unit: m or cm) 0.75 meters meters meters meters Plant vigor High High Medium High Time to Harvest 18-20 weeks 18-20 weeks 18-20 weeks 18-20 weeks (Seed to Harvest) Resistance to pests or No No No No diseases? Is this plant a No No No No Genetically Modified Organism? ¹: Easy refers to plants that don't require any special products, chemicals or hormones for rooting. Roots will also show up within 10-14 days. ²: Moderate refers to plants that may take 14-21 days with an increase in rooting after additional hormone or nutrient has been introduced.

Additional general characteristics:

The variety is susceptible to powdery mildew and spider mites.

TABLE II Leaf/Foliage Parental variety (Female Parental variety Characteristic New Variety plant) (Pollen donor) Check Variety Leaf arrangement Alternate Alternate Alternate Alternate (Phyllotaxy) Leaf shape Palmately Palmately Palmately Palmately compound compound compound compound Leaf structure Palmately Palmately Palmately Palmately compound compound compound compound Leaf margins Coarsely Coarsely Coarsely serrated Coarsely serrated serrated pointing towards serrated pointing pointing tip of leaflet pointing towards tip of towards tip towards tip of leaflet of leaflet leaflet Leaf hairs Absence Absence Absence Absence (Presence or absence) Leaf length with 20 cm 16 cm 18 cm 18 petiole at maturity (Unit: cm) Petiole length at 10 cm  9 cm 10 cm 12 maturity (Unit: cm) Stipule length at  1 cm  1 cm  1 cm  1 cm maturity (Unit: cm or mm) Stipule shape Long, bulbous Long, Long, bulbous Long, bulbous bases with bulbous bases with bases with acuminate bases with acuminate acuminate (tapering acuminate (tapering concave (tapering concave to (tapering to apex) shape concave to apex) shape concave to apex) shape apex) shape No. of leaflets 5-9 5-9 5-9 5-9 (a range is OK) Middle largest 9 9 8 8 (longest) leaflet length (Unit: cm) Middle largest 2 1.5 2 2 (longest) leaflet width (Unit: cm) Middle largest 9:2 6:1 4:1 4:1 (longest) leaflet length/width ratio No. teeth of middle 14 14 13 13 leaflet (average) Leaf (upper side) color 141C 141C 141C 141C (RHS³ No.) Leaf (lower side) color 143A 143A 143A 143A (RHS No.) Leaf glossiness Medium Medium Medium Medium Vein/midrib shape Even, not Even, not Even, not Even, not (general description) alternate. alternate. alternate. Slightly alternate. Slightly points Slightly points towards tip Slightly points towards tip just points just like the towards tip just like the towards tip serrations like the serrations just like the serrations serrations Vein/midrib color Light green Light green Light green Light green (RHS 140B) (RHS 140B) (RHS 140B) (RHS 140B) Aroma Sweet grass Citrus/Fruity Herbal/Spicy Gas/Fuel, (general description) Earthy ³As used in this disclosure, RHS stands for Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) Edition, which can be found at: rhscf.orgfree.com

Additional Leaf/Foliage-related Characteristics of the new variety

Petiole and stipule surface texture and color designation: Smooth petiole and stipule; RHS color 140B

Anthocyanin coloration on petiole: Very weak

TABLE III Stem Parental variety Parental (Female variety Characteristic New Variety plant) (Pollen donor) Check Variety Stem shape hollow, large, hollow, hollow, large, hollow, large, (general description) rugose, large, rugose, rugose, rugose, punctuate, punctuate, punctuate, punctuate, minutely minutely minutely minutely glandular, ribbed glandular, ribbed glandular, glandular, with ribs running with ribs running ribbed with ribbed with parallel to stem parallel to stem ribs running ribs running parallel to parallel to stem stem Stem diameter at 1.25 cm 1 cm 1.5 cm 1 cm base (Unit: cm) Stem color 144D 144D 144D 144D (RHS No.)

Additional stem characteristics of the new variety:

Depth of main stem grooves: Shallow

Length of internode: Medium

TABLE IV Inflorescence (Female /Pistillate Flowers) New Variety Parental variety Parental variety Characteristic (Female plant) (Female plant) (Pollen donor) Check Variety Flowering Dioecious. Forms Dioecious. Forms Dioecious. Small Dioecious. (blooming) a tall a tall inflorescences, habit (General interconnected interconnected tightly packed description) cola or terminal cola or terminal against stem and bud bud separated all along plants branches. Proportion of 50% N/A N/A N/A female plants (50% or less?) Inflorescence Above Above Above Above position Flower Overlapping⁵ Overlapping Overlapping Overlapping arrangement Number of 250 200 175 200 flowers per plant Flower shape Each flower has a Each flower has a Each flower has a Each flower has a small green bract small green bract small green bract small green bract enclosing the enclosing the enclosing the enclosing the ovary with two ovary with two ovary with two ovary with two long, slender long, slender long, slender long, slender stigmas stigmas stigmas stigmas projecting well projecting well projecting well projecting well above the bract. above the bract. above the bract. above the bract. And the-flower And the flower And the flower And the flower looks urceolate looks urceolate looks urceolate looks urceolate (urn-shaped). (urn-shaped). (urn-shaped). (urn-shaped). Flower 3 mm 3 mm 3 mm 3 mm (individual pistillate) length (Unit: mm) Flower 2.5 cm 2 cm 1.5 cm 2 cm diameter (Unit: cm) (compound cyme) Corolla Round Round Round Round (general description) Corolla Color 142C 142C 142C 142C (RHS No.) Bract shape Round at the base Round at the base Round at the base Round at the base (general but tapered but tapered but tapered but tapered description) towards the tip towards the tip towards the tip towards the tip Bract color 142C 142C 142C 142C (RHS No.) Calyx shape Round Round Round Round (general description) Calyx color 142C 142C 142C 142C (RHS No.) Stigma shape Curved and Curved and Curved and Curved and (general wavy, thin wavy, thin wavy, thin wavy, thin description) Stigma length 0.6 cm 0.6 cm 0.6 cm 0.6 cm (Unit: mm) Stigma color closely closely closely closely (RHS No.) resembling an off resembling an off resembling an off resembling an off white or white or white or white or NN155D NN155D NN155D NN155D Trichome Glandular, thus it Glandular, thus it Glandular, thus it Glandular, thus it shape has a stalk that has a stalk that has a stalk that has a stalk that (general supports supports supports supports description) secretory head secretory head secretory head secretory head Trichome Mature cap = Mature cap = Mature cap = Mature cap = color (RHS N172C N172C N172C N172C No.) Stalk = Stalk = Stalk = Stalk = Clear/Translucent Clear/Translucent Clear/Translucent Clear/Translucent closely closely closely closely resembling an off resembling an off resembling an off resembling an off white or white or white or white or NN155D NN155D NN155D NN155D Terminal bud tall and Somewhat tall Small, rounded Round but with shape interconnected and and slightly flat textured (general cola or terminal interconnected on top. projections (fox description) bud. Lance cola or terminal tails). Spikey bud. Conical Terminal bud 142C 142C 142C 142C color (RHS No.) Pedicel absence absence absence absence (Presence or absence) Staminate N/A N/A Round sacks of N/A shape . modular composition like the hand of a banana but originating from a set of stems similar to grapes Pollen N/A N/A Typical yellow N/A description pollen with musty smell Seed Starts off white Starts off white N/A Starts off white description and turns to and turns to and turns to Brown with black Brown with black Brown with black or dark brown or dark brown or dark brown stripes stripes stripes Petal absence absence absence absence description THC and/or >1% THC 9-12% THC N/A (male) 20-24% CBD content⁶ 16-20% CBD 9-12% CBD ⁵Overlapping, when referring to flower arrangement, means that the leaves from each shoot overlap with each other and obscure the flowers. ⁶THC and/or CBD content were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (“HPLC”) with Diode-Array Detection (“DAD”).

Additional inflorescence-related characteristics of the new variety:

Proportion of hermaphrodite and male plants: Medium

Average size of terminal bud: 8-10 inches

Corolla, bract and calyx surface textures and average sizes: 4 mm bracts once fully developed; texture is sticky and slightly rough due to trichomes and the floral density.

Immature glandular trichomes color designation on the flower: transparent and clear, most similar to 3D.

Types of trichomes: Non-glandular and capitate-stalked. Non-glandular covers the new growth and some rachis until the plant is in flower. Once in flower they will continue but the capitate stalked trichomes being to appear. They can be found on all parts of the flower as well as the petiole and again on the rachis. All are transparent and clear and until the capitate stalked mature into a color close to 17A, they will be closer to 3D or colorless.

Seed average size and color designation: Average size is 4 mm in diameter. Color equals 199A.

Intensity of seed striping: Strong

TABLE V Other Characteristics and Culture Parental variety Parental New Variety (Female variety Characteristic (Female plant) plant) (Pollen donor) Check Variety Time period and Blooms in 9-11 Blooms in 9- Blooms in 9-11 Blooms in 9-11 condition of weeks after 11 weeks weeks after weeks after flowering/blooming cutting-and- after cutting- cutting-and- cutting-and- rooting when and-rooting rooting when rooting when more than 12 when more more than 12 more than 12 hours light is than 12 hours light is hours light is applied to induce hours light is applied to applied to induce flowering applied to induce flowering induce flowering flowering Hardiness of plant High⁷ High Medium Medium Breaking action⁴ High High Medium Medium Rooting rate after 9 days 9 days 9 days 9 days cutting/cloning (under certain or specific condition) ⁷A high hardiness refers to drought resistant; low nutrient requirement/demand; wind resistant due to strong branching and turgidity, along with above average rooting ability (anchoring). ⁴refers to how strong the stem is against the breakage such as fibrous, strong, flexible, resistant to breakage, etc. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Cannabis plant having the characteristics substantially as described and illustrated herein. 